DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is a technique for verifying emails. DKIM attaches a digital signature to your outgoing emails, enabling the recipient's email servers to confirm that the messages are from a genuine sender and haven't been tampered with during transmission. Configuring DKIM for your email server, like Plesk, can improve your email deliverability and protect your domain's reputation from being exploited for phishing or spamming. This guide will show you how to set up DKIM for Plesk.

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What is DKIM?

DKIM is an email authentication method that helps verify the rightfulness of emails. It works by adding a digital signature to the headers of outgoing emails linked to your domain. When a recipient's email server receives the message, it uses this signature to check if the email was actually sent from the domain it claims to be from and whether it was altered during transmission. With DKIM, you can help protect your domain from being used in email spoofing or phishing attacks. It also improves your email deliverability by making it more likely that your emails will reach the recipient's inbox rather than being marked as spam.

What is Plesk?

Plesk is a web hosting control panel that simplifies the management of websites, servers, and applications. It provides an easy-to-use interface for managing tasks like setting up email accounts, creating databases, installing software, and handling security settings. Plesk supports various operating systems, including Linux & Windows. It's popular among website developers because it streamlines many technical processes, which allows users to focus more on their projects rather than server management.

How to Set Up DKIM for Plesk?

To set up DKIM for Plesk, you must go through a few steps, such as generating DKIM keys, adding DNS records, and adjusting Plesk’s email settings to activate DKIM signing. Here’s how you can set up DKIM on your Plesk server:

Generate DKIM Keys

Log in to your Plesk control panel.
Go to the Mail tab and choose Mail Settings.
Scroll down to find the DKIM spam protection section, then click Enable DKIM spam protection for newly created domains to activate DKIM signing for any new domains.
Next to DKIM key settings, click Generate to create DKIM keys for your domains.

Configure DNS Records

After you’ve generated the DKIM keys, Plesk will provide the necessary DNS records for DKIM authentication.
Copy the DKIM DNS record, which includes the selector prefix and the public key.
Log in to your domain registrar’s website or your DNS management interface.
Add a new TXT record for your domain using the DKIM information provided by Plesk.
Save the DNS record to make the DKIM key public for your domain.

Enable DKIM Signing

Once the DNS records are set up - return to the Plesk control panel.
Go to the Mail tab and click Mail Server Settings.
Scroll down to the DKIM spam protection section and make sure Enable signing outgoing mail is checked.
Click Apply to save the changes.

Test DKIM Setup

Send a test email from your Plesk server to an external email address.
Check the email headers of the received message to confirm that the DKIM signature is included and valid.
Use online DKIM validation tools to verify that your DKIM setup is working properly.

Monitor DKIM Status

Regularly monitor the DKIM status in Plesk to ensure DKIM signing is active for all outgoing emails.
Check the DNS records associated with your domain to confirm that the DKIM keys are correctly published.

Conclusion

Configuring DKIM for Plesk is a simple process that requires a few adjustments in Plesk's email settings. DKIM authentication can boost the security and deliverability of your emails. It also reduces the chances of your messages being marked as spam. Follow the steps provided above to set up DKIM on your Plesk server and strengthen the credibility of your email communications. Need assistance with your email security? Reach out to Leasepacket, one of the leading server providers globally.